ABSTRACT
A surprise that confronts editors who have flourished in a particular genre is the hesitation of producers to hire them for films in other genres. Until an editor has proven himself in comedy, for instance, it may be difficult for him to land an assignment in that genre. An important first step in understanding genre resides in grasping its various conventions. These conventions are the standards that differentiate one genre from another. They exist in every fiction genre from comedy and thriller to nonfiction such as documentary, educational, and today's popular reality programming. Coming to a genre is a bit like an adolescent's search for identity. Within the genre reside needs and issues that an audience expects to participate in and, ultimately, discover resolutions for. A thriller director suffered an abusive home life at the hands of an unpredictable and alcoholic father. In each of the genres these individuals found inspiration in a different aspect of the human psyche.
